Yesterday, Brandy Potter, very graciously, hosted the most difficult question of the blog hop this month – ‘Which is your favorite book of 2019?‘ In spite of it being such a difficult question, we had quite a lot of participation and some amazing answers. Kudos to you all for being such a sport! Today, we are here on my blog to discuss ‘Best examples of an author writing a character of the opposite sex’.
All through the month of June, we shall be hopping from one blog to another celebrating ‘Summer Bookish Blog Hop’ and discussing all things related to books, reading, reviewing and summer. But those who couldn’t participate don’t have to feel left out. You can join this month by liking, commenting and subscribing to our participants. Also you can put up promo posts for any of the topics that catch your eye. You can also participate in our next blog hop by joining our Facebook Page.
Writing consists of mostly two parts – experience and imagination. No matter how imaginative a story line is, there would always be some part of it from the author’s experience. Therefore, when an author comes up with a story from an opposite sex, it requires a different level of skill-set, a unique perspective to get the story to sell to the audience.
For me, the best example of such writing is from Dame Agatha Christie with her works on Hercule Poirot. In her time of existence, women did not have as much freedom and exposure as we have today. So, for her to write from an egocentric male perspective was commendable. Her portrayal of Hercule Poirot was so perfect that even with his genius abilities, we always disliked him a bit for being so obnoxious.
JK Rowling also managed the same thing with Harry Potter and later with Cormoran Strike, but I wouldn’t put that in the same league. Both in Harry Potter and in Cormoran Strike series, she brought in strong female characters in Hermione Granger and Robin Ellacott, who always managed to single-handedly bring the story in the right direction when the men were busy in their own world of self-pity.
These are my thoughts. What does our star bloggers say? Check out their comments below:
Leslie Conzatti
I have a couple that spring to mind!
The first is Mark Lawrence, a spectacular fantasy writer who has produced three trilogies (he’s in the midst of the fourth trilogy) with two of them in the same world, and two in vastly different ones. His third trilogy, in particular, is apparently his first foray into writing a female protagonist and I AM HERE FOR IT!! The Book of The Ancestors Trilogy follows Nona, a young orphan taken in by a convent called the Sisters of Sweet Mercy. In fact, they are basically an assassin school, training girls to be patient, well-mannered, professional killers. His prominent characters are all women, and they are as diverse as they are interesting, every last one of them! I’ve read two of the books in the trilogy and I am absolutely pleased as punch with the whole thing!
The second is a series I’ve mentioned before, The Chronicles of Lorrek by Kelly Blanchard. Her male characters are nuanced, balanced, and neither too exaggerated nor too reserved. They all “look” and “sound” like real, individual people. It’s wonderful how she does it!
Brandy Potter
Agatha Christie writes VERY good men not just Poirot, but Hastings and the other men in her books. They are quite varied in their personalities. Jane Austen, another great male character writer. I mean Darcy, Edmund Bertram and Col. Brandon, are flawed and not romanticized. Darcy is VERY flawed. Brandon is jaded and one could argue that Bertram is so blind to Fanny that he is almost stupid. Those that fit the romantic model in her books are often the cads, Willoughby, Wickham and Crawford.
As for men, my favorite male writer of women is DAvid Eddings. He writes strong, flawed and intelligent woman. They all have their strengths and their weaknesses and they aren’t the “damsel in distress” that most fantasy novelists write.
Shohinee Deb
I always find it fascinating how a writer is capable of immersing himself/herself into a character of the opposite sex. Authors have to establish connection to their main character. It would seem that characters of opposite sex would pose a challenge. The idea of the writing process is exciting to me. It must require so much of research, observation and some introspection as well. A book that really impressed me in this context was ‘Don’t Let Me In‘ by Phil Kurthausen. Mr. Kurthausen has not only empathetically created a female protagonist but a female who suffers from Agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder. Mental disorders are packaged with their own stereotypes which are further exacerbated by the stereotypes associated with gender. The author depicts just that with incredible sensitivity, wearing his character’s slippers.
Do you agree with these thoughts? Do you have some of your own? Please share them in the comment section. We would love to know what you think of the topic and/or of the blog. Tomorrow, we are off to Brandy Potter to discuss ‘A book on Summer Romance’.
Our blog hop has been happening all through the month of June. Do you think you missed out any? Check out the link below and join from any stop you think you missed.
- Which book do you wish you had written? – Hosted by Jo Linsdell
- Would you or do you choose a book solely on the cover? – Hosted by Eline
- Do you review all the books you read? – Hosted by Fee Kelly
- What authors do you always read and recommend? – Hosted by Views She Writes
- How do you choose the next book to read? – Hosted by Eline
- Do you read classics? If so, what is your favorite? – Hosted by Kim
- Is there a specific genre you like to read during the Summer? – Hosted by A booklover’s adventure
- How do you keep track of books you will be reviewing or reading? – Hosted by Leslie Conzatti
- What were some of the most memorable books you read as a child? – Hosted by Laura Doherty – Sawdust & Spoons
- What book are you currently reading? – Hosted by Fee Kelly
- A book on your TBR you can’t wait to read this Summer – Hosted by Views She Writes
- A book cover with a great Summer feel to it – Hosted by Eline
- Books set in places one wants to visit – Hosted by Becki
- A book set in Summer – Hosted by Leslie Conzatti
- Do you prefer stand-alone or series? – Hosted by Shohinee Deb
- Best quotes from a book – Hosted by Eline
- How does reading inspire your everyday life? – Hosted by Lindsey Russell
- Worst film adaptation of a book – Hosted by Views She Writes
- Favorite book so far in 2019 – Hosted by Brandy Potter
